Florida Nursing Home Abuse: Assisted Living Facility Chain Still Under Investigation

According to the Sun-Sentinel, in the wake of the Palm Beach Post’s investigation into the Council on Aging of Florida Inc. in 2009 over allegations of executive pay abuses and Florida nursing home negligence, the state’s Attorney General’s Office is still conducting its own “active investigation.”

The probe also comes following a whistleblower complaint filed by the chain’s ex-chief human resources officer. Richard Castillo says he was fired because he cooperated with the state’s probe. He is now seeking over $75,000 in damages.

The assisted living facilities under investigation include Glades Health Care Center in Pahokee, Riverfront Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Bradenton, and Gainesville Health Care Center. Also, at the Gainesville facility, maggots were found in one 76-year-old patient’s eye socket last year. Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration cited the assisted living facility for not telling a doctor about problems while changing the resident’s eye dressings. Our Palm Beach nursing home abuse lawyers posted a blog about this incident last year. Gainesville Healthcare Center, which has ownership connections to Treasure Coast and Palm Beach County, has been flagged for numerous violations in the past by the state.

Nursing Home Patients, Maggots, and Negligent Nursing Care
Unfortunately, finding maggots in a nursing home patient’s wound is not as rare of an occurrence as you would like to think. Unhygienic conditions are one reason why maggots develop in wounds. Basic monitoring and nursing care can prevent such unfortunate incidents from happening. It is important in the wake of such an infestation for a wound to be cleared up immediately.

Our Miami nursing home neglect and abuse lawyers represent nursing home residents and their families throughout South Florida. Assisted living facilities can be held liable for failing to provide a patient with adequate nursing care-especially if this lead to serious injuries, infection, health complications, or death.